ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activists, led by party founder Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi, on Tuesday reached D-Chowk after removing obstacles on the way.
Earlier, the caravans reached Zero Point on the main Islamabad-Srinagar Highway where they clashed with law-enforcement officials when they were stopped from marching further.
Police fired tear gas shells on marchers to disperse them. The protesters, in retaliation, pelted police personnel with stones.
The boundaries of Red Zone begin beyond Zero Point, where military personnel have been deployed.
Earlier, PTI leader Arbab Naseem, who was with the convoy from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, told a foreign media outlet that when the workers tried to remove obstacles at Zero Point, police started tear gas shelling.
He also expressed the hope that they would reach D Chowk later in the day.
The government called in army in and around Red Zone with a clear direction to “open fire on miscreants”.
Government sources claimed that Imran Khan had agreed to shift the venue for the protest sit-in but Bushra Bibi was adamant and resolved to reach D Chowk.
Bushra Bibi, on the other hand, said some elements wanted to stop the PTI march. But, Imran Khan had asked her to reach D Chowk at any cost. Party activists were also not ready to go to any other place, she added.
Sources claimed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur was tight-lipped about the “decision taken in the reported negotiation [with government].” PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has also been “silent” on the march, they continued.
PTI insiders said the central leadership seemed to be unable to determine the final location for the sit-in. No one in the PTI central leadership was willing to take responsibility, they maintained.
As PTI’s main convoy, led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, entered Islamabad, the first round of talks between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ended without a breakthrough.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi held talks with PTI leaders Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif.
Sources privy to the development said the PTI also rejected the government’s offer to protest at alternative sites.
Earlier, it was reported that the KP CM led the main convoy towards its entry into Islamabad with a mission to reach D-Chowk.
As the convoy entered the precincts of the capital, security had been heightened to deal with any untoward incident.
Earlier, it was reported that main convoy from Peshawar had reached Hazro Interchange on Sunday night en route to Islamabad for protest.
The convoy reached Hasanabdal via Attock. When the convoy entered Punjab, police fired tear gas shells at the Attock Bridge, Chhich Interchange and Ghazi Barotha Canal.
In a video message during her tough journey towards the capital, Bushra Bibi said, “My brothers, as long as Imran is not with us, we will not end this march,” she said while addressing supporters at a stop near the Hazara Interchange. “I will stay there till my last breath, and all of you have to support me. This is not just about my husband but about the country and its leader.”
Police also fired tear gas at the participants of the convoy coming from Haripur, led by Opposition Leader in the National Asembly Omar Ayub, at Attock Bridge. The participants set fire to the greenbelt around it and a vehicle parked on Ghazi Bridge.
Later, police also fired tear gas when the convoy reached Taxila checkpost. But, police had to retreat due to the advance of the PTI workers.
The PTI convoy led by Taimur Masood from Taxila joined Omar Ayub’s convoy at the checkpost.
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